ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Pharmacol.
Sec. Ethnopharmacology
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fphar.2025.1551833
This article is part of the Research Topic4Rs in Ethnopharmacology - Reduce, Refine, Replace and Responsibility using Animal ModelsView all 3 articles
Contribution of multimodal ultrasound in evaluating the efficacy of lumbricus protein fast dissolving tablets against atherosclerotic plaques in ApoE (-/-) mice
Provisionally accepted
- 1School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- 2Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China
- 3School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicines, Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China
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Atherosclerosis (AS), a prevalent cardiovascular condition characterized by cholesterol accumulation, inflammation, and fibrous tissue proliferation within arterial walls, remains a major global health challenge. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) identifies earthworm (Lumbricus) as an effective treatment for blood stasis syndromes, consistent with its known pharmacological properties, such as anti-inflammatory, thrombolytic, and circulation-enhancing effects. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of a novel sublingual, fast-dissolving lumbricus protein tablet (LP-FDT) in alleviating atherosclerotic plaques, using ApoE(-/-) mice on a high-fat diet as a model.Multimodal ultrasound, along with histopathological and biochemical analyses, was employed to assess the therapeutic effects. LP-FDT significantly reduced arterial plaque size and inflammation while enhancing collagen remodeling within the plaques. Although no substantial impact on serum lipid profiles was observed, LP-FDT significantly downregulated MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression, suggesting a novel immunomodulatory mechanism in extracellular matrix degradation and plaque stabilization. By adhering to the principles of the 3Rs (replacement, reduction, refinement), the study minimized animal use and suffering while maximizing experimental reliability. These findings indicate that LP-FDT, an innovative formulation combining TCM principles with modern pharmaceutical technologies, holds significant promise in the prevention and treatment of AS, providing a new pathway for the integration of traditional and contemporary approaches to cardiovascular health. Further investigation into its molecular mechanisms is warranted.
Keywords: 3R principles1, lumbricus protein orally disintegrating tablets2, atherosclerotic plaques3, ApoE-/-mice4, multimodal ultrasound5
Received: 26 Dec 2024; Accepted: 19 May 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Lu, Wang, Yu, Feng, Dong, Zhao, Cai, Li and Zhong. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Jian Li, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
Liqun Zhong, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100001, Beijing Municipality, China
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.